Web joining devices

ABSTRACT

Device for splicing one reeled length of web material onto another reeled length during operation of apparatus such as a rotogravure press which continuously consumes the web includes a magnetised element mounted for movement, typically rotation, with said one reel as the latter is run up to a peripheral speed corresponding to the speed of a flight of web from the other reel, and two proximity switches actuated by said element in timed sequence to cause a pasting roller or other element to urge said flight against a predetermined zone of the one reel for adhesion thereto, and a severing knife to cut trailing part of said flight thereafter so that web is then drawn from said one reel without interruption. The reels are conveniently carried in a rotatable cradle enabling their position to be interchanged.

United States Patent" 1 Moseley et a1.

[ 1 Nov. 27, 1973 WEB JOINING DEVICES Inventors: Anthony John Moseley, West Bromwich; Michael Herbert James Morrall, Dudley, both of England James Halley & Sons Limited, Stafford, England June 7, 1971 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.: 150,625

Foreign Application Priority Data June 18, 1970 Great Britain 29,526/70 US. Cl 156/502, 156/157, 156/504, 242/57, 242/58.1, 242/58.2, 242/59 Int. CL. B65h 19/08, B65h 19/18, B65h 25/02, B65h 69/02 Field of Search 156/502, 504, 157, 156/350, 355, 358, 361; 242/58.1, 58.2, 58.3, 58.4, 59, 57

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Penrod eta], ..242 ss.2 11/1968 Fishiora ..242 5s.1

Niepmann 156/504 3,580,757 5/1971 3,467,334 9/1969 Chesnut 156/504 X 3,195,827 7/1965 Schowerer et al. 242/58.2

Primary Examiner-Alfred L. Leavitt Assistant Examiner-Caleb Weston Attorney-Norris & Bateman [5 7 ABSTRACT Device for splicing one reeled length of web material onto another reeled length during operation of apparatus such as a rotogravure press which continuously consumes the web includes a magnetised element mounted for movement, typically rotation, with said one reel as the latter is run up to a peripheral speed corresponding to the speed of a flight of web from the other reel, and two proximity switches actuated bysaid element in timed sequence to cause a pasting roller or other element to urge said flight against a predetermined zone of the one reel for adhesion thereto,

. and a severing knife to cut trailing part of said flight thereafter so that web is then drawn from said one reel without interruption. The reels are conveniently carried in a rotatable cradle enabling their position to be interchanged.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHUYEY 197s 3.775.223 SHEET 10F 3 inventors: Anthony John Moseley Michael Herbert James Morrall By Attorneys: v

NORRIS & BATEMAN PATENTEUHBYZ? ma 3.775223 SHEET 2 OF 3 Inventors: Anthony John Moseley Michael Herbert James Morrall By Attorneys: Z

NORRIS & BATEMAN PATENTED MW 27 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 Inventors: Anthony John Moseley Michael Herbert James Morrall By attorneys: gQZZ/nw 4 NORRIS & BATEMAN WEB JOINING DEVICES This invention relates to web joining devices, for use with apparatus in which a web of material is continuously processed, enabling a new length of web to be spliced to a length which is nearing exhaustion. The invention applies to the kind of web joining device enabling the formation of a flying splice whereby said lengths are joined without affecting the continuity of full speed operation of the apparatus.

The invention has particular but not exclusive application to high speed rotary printing installations handling paper or other web materials including plastics film, metal foil, fabrics or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a web joining device which is speedy and reliablein operation, which is adaptable in that it will handle a wide range of types and dimensions of web, and which facilitates positive formation of a flying splice without any particular skill on the part of an operator.

According to the invention a web joining device comprising reel mounting means including shafts for operatively supporting first and second reels of web material whereby the periphery of the second reel is adjacent to but spaced from a flight of web operatively drawn from the first reel for consumption by a processing apparatus, driving means selectively operable to rotate the second reel in a direction and at a speed substantially corresponding to the speedof said flight, a pasting element operable to urge a leading portion of said flight into contact with said periphery, a severing element operable to sever a trailing part of said flight, and control means for operating the pasting and severing elements in sequence; is characterised in that the control means includes a magnetised element (21) mounted for movement corresponding to rotation of the shaft (13) for carrying the second reehand first and second magnetically actuated proximity switches (26,27) mounted at respective spaced stations adjacent to the path of movement of said'magnetised element, actuation of the first switch initating operation of the pasting element (32) in relationto the angular position of a predetermined zone of said reel periphery to urge said leading portion into contact with that zone for adhesion thereto, and actuation of the second switch initiating operation of the severing element (34) after said contact.

A preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a reelstand for use as part of a rotogravure web printing installation is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the reelstand showing a new reel of web mounted thereon to await splicing on to a length being consumed from an exhausting reel;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the reelstand of FIG. 1 with some parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of magnetic proximity switch control means of said reelstand and,

FIG. 4 is a like view to FIG. 1 illustrating the formation of a splice.

The stand includes a pair of parallel frame uprights between which is pivoted a reel mounting cradle 11 comprising a pair of arms 12 in which are journalled two reel shafts l3 and 14 on which respective reels may be supported for rotation about first and second parallel transverse axes. Cradle 11 is pivoted on a cradle shaft 15 for rotation about a third transverse axis para]- lelto and equidistant from the first and second axes in a common plane therewith, turning movement of the cradle being efiected by a turnover electric motor 16 and drive gear 17. Turning cradle 11 enables interchange of the position of reel shafts 13,14 so that each occupies a like position in the frame in turn as the cradle is indexed to one of two change-over positions, at which one shaft is uppermost and the other occupies a lower position. (In the change-over position illustrated in the drawings reel shaft 13 is uppermost).

A pair of idler path rollers 18 are joumalled in respective pairs of arms 19 extending forwards and rearwards from the centre of cradle 11 when it is at a changeover position.

Each reel shaft 13,14 protrudes beyond one side of cradle 11 and mounts a disc 20 which carries a magnet 21 (FIG. 3) radially spaced from the disc axis and facing axially outwards towards the adjacent frame upright so that rotation of a reel mounted on the shaft causes corresponding angular movement of the magnet.

A swinging arm 22 is freely pivoted on cradle shaft 15 for angular movement about the third axis in a plane between and parallel to said one side of the cradle and said frame upright and is counter-weighted at 23 so that, when swinging freely, it takes up a substantially vertical position. The uppermost end of arm 22 mounts a pair of discs 24,25 (FIG. 3) which can be independently rotated relative to the arm on a common axis parallel to the third axis and at the same distance therefrom as the first and second axes of the cradle. Discs 24,25 can be locked rigid with arm 22 at selected angular positions and are equal in diameter to magnet discs 20. Each disc 24,25 carries a respective magnetic proximity switch 26,27 (FIG. 3) the switch 27 being attached to the disc 25 by a bracket 28 so that it overlies the face of disc 26. Thus, by rotation of the discs, or

. one of them, the angular relationship of switches 26,27

can be adjusted.

Releasable interengaging latch formations (not shown) bring the cradle arms 12 and swinging arm 22 into angular alignment with each other when cradle 11 is moved to one or other changeover position so that switch discs 24,25 are coaxial with magnet disc 20 of the uppermost reel shaft, e.g., 13 as shown in the drawings, and the face of disc 20 is in spaced parallel relationship to said switch discs.

Cradle 11 is laterally adjustable within the frame, and swinging arm 22 is also laterally movable in company with the adjacent cradle member 12, also reel shafts 13,14 themselves may be adapted to receive reels of various widths so enabling various dimensions of web to be handled in correct alignment with the printing apparatus.

Pivotally mounted on an upper part of the frame are a pair of main arms 30 (not shown in FIG. 2 for clarity) which depend generally downwards and have a pair of further arms 31 pivotally mounted on their lower ends, which further arms carry a freely rotatable pasting roller 32. Pivotally mounted about the transverse horizontal axis of said roller are a pair of bell crank levers 33, respective arms of which carry a severing knife 34 extending transversely below roller 32.

Main arms 30 are angularly movable relative to the frame by means of a pair of main rams 35 pivotally connected to frame uprights 10. Angular movement of arms 31 relative to arms 30 is effective by means of a second pair of rams 36.pivotally connected therebetween; and a third pair of rams 37 are pivotally connected between arms 31 and levers 33 for angular movement of the latter relative to the arms. The pivot between arms 30 and 31 also mounts a path roller 38. Rams 35, 36, and 37 are all operated pneumatically through respective solenoid controlled valves.

A reel drive electric motor 40 is mounted at the top of the frame for driving a plurality of axially spaced endless belts 41 which pass around pulleys 42 on common transverse axes and are journalled in a swing frame 43 pivoted on the main frame above cradle 11, angular movement of frame 43 by means of a pair of rams 44 bringing belts 41 into driving engagement with the periphery of a reel 50 mounted on the uppermost reel shaft.

In an alternative construction a single endless belt or one or more driving discs or wheels may be used to drive the reel periphery.

In operation one reel of web material 51, which is being consumed by the printing installation, is carried on the lowermost reel shaft (14 in the drawings) the web path extending under one of the path rollers 18, and over path roller 38 so that a flgiht of web 52 extends between pasting roller 32 and the periphery of the other reel 50 being drawn into the printing apparatus. In preparation for splicing a new reel 50 of web, to replace reel 51, is located on the upper-most reel shaft 13 its leading end is cut to shape, and a zone of its periphery adjacent said leading end has an adhesive applied in axially spaced patches (so as to avoid the belts 41). Said zone is aligned angularly with magnet 21 on disc of shaft 13.

When reel 51 is approaching exhaustion arms are moved to a ready position by means of rams and cradle 11 is finally aligned at a changeover position to bring the periphery of reel 50 some one-half inch to 1 inch away from flight 52 which now abuts the pasting roller 32 as shown in FIG. 4.

Swing frame 43 is lowered to bring belts 41 into driving engagement with the periphery of reel 50 and motor 44 is started to rotate said reel anticlockwise as viewed in FIG. 4. Tachometer control means of known type operates to bring the peripheral speed of said reel up to the linear speed of the exhausting web flight 52 and when so synchronised a signal is given to indicate to an operator that all is ready. When the splice is to be formed a splicing switch is actuated manually to activate a circuit which includes the two proximity switches 26,27.

Magnet 21 actuates proximity switch 26 automatically when its angular position coincides therewith. When this occurs, switch 26 closes to energize an associated relay which in turn energizes the solenoid associated with the control valve of rams 36 carrying pasting roller 32 to cause rams 36 to move the pasting roller 32 towards the axis of uppermost reel shaft 13 and press a leading part of web flight 52 onto the adhesive carrying zone of the periphery of reel 50 to splice the two webs. Magnet 21 next activates proximity switch 27 to energize an associated relay which in turn energizes the solenoid associated with the control valve of rams 37 carrying the knife 34. This causes rams 37 to operate to move the severing knife 34 into contact with a trailing part of said flight to cut it. Closure of switch 27 also energizes a timer which after a period of time serves to return all the rams to the rest" position (FIG. 1) and to stop the reel drive motor and to reset the tachometer control means. The pasting roller and knife are swung clear and the spliced web is now drawn from reel 50. Next cradle 11 is swung round to carry reel 50 to the lowermost position with the web path arranged as initially described above and a replacement reel is loaded onto shaft 12. As the cradle is swung round the latch formations are released automatically by contact with a striker on the frame and re-engage the swinging arm 22 to align switch discs 24,25 with the axis of said shaft 14 on which the replacement reel is now mounted in the uppermost position to await splicing when required.

Operation of the pasting roller and severing knife is accurately controlled relative to the angular movement of the adhesive carrying zone of the new reel periphery and quick and reliable changeover at high running speeds is effected even if said reel is inaccurately formed, e.g., does not have a true cylindrical periphery.

Unlike some known systems which depend on attachment of electrical conductors to the reel periphery itself, the invention operates whatever material is to be handled, e.g., electrically conductive metal foil. Reliable operation is essential as a failure to effect a flying splice means that the whole installation has to be stopped and the time consuming operation of rethreading a web along the web path thereof must be carried out before a fresh start can be made.

Adjustment of the relative angular spacing of the two proximity switches 26,27 enables the length of the new web which is to be spliced to the exhausting web to be varied to requirements, some materials may require a greater area of adhesive than others.

The cradle may include more than two reel shafts whose positions can be interchanged in sequence.

We claim:

1. A web joining device comprising reel mounting means including shafts for operatively supporting first and second reels of web material whereby the periphery of the second reel is adjacent to but spaced from a flight of web operatively drawn from the first reel for consumption by a processing apparatus, driving means selectively operable to rotate the second reel in a direction and at a speed substantially corresponding to the speed of said flight, a pasting element operable to urge a leading portion of said flight into contact with said periphery, a severing element operable to sever a trailing part of said flight, and control means for operating the pasting and severing elements in sequence, said control means including a magnetised element (21) mounted for movement corresponding to rotation of the shaft (13) carrying the second reel, first and second magnetically actuated proximity switches (26,27) mounted at respective spaced stations adjacent to the path of movement of said magnetised element, actuation of the first switch initiating operation of the pasting element (32) in relation to the angular position of a predetermined zone of said periphery of said second reel to urge said leading portion of said flight into contact with said zone for adhesion thereto, actuation of the second switch initiating operation of the severing element (34) after said contact of said leading portion with said zone, said proximity switches being adjustably mounted so that the spaced relationship of the stations at which the proximity switches (26,27) are located can be adjusted to vary the timing of operation of the severing element (34) relative to operation of the pasting element (32).

2. A web joining device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetized element (21) is mounted for rotation with the shaft (13) operatively carrying the second reel and the proximity switches (26,27) are mounted at angularly spaced stations adjacent to the path of angular movement of said element, said proximity switches being carried on respective coaxially mounted and selectively relatively rotatable elements (24,25).

3. A web joining device according to claim 1 characterised by reel mounting means including at least two reel mounting shafts (13,14) carried in a rotatable cradle (11) whereby the position of said shafts operatively 

1. A web joining device comprising reel mounting means including shafts for operatively supporting first and second reels of web material whereby the periphery of the second reel is adjacent to but spaced from a flight of web operatively drawn from the first reel for consumption by a processing apparatus, driving means selectively operable to rotate the second reel in a direction and at a speed substantially corresponding to the speed of said flight, a pasting element operable to urge a leading portion of said flight into contact with said periphery, a severing element operable to sever a trailing part of said flight, and control means for operating the pasting and severing elements in sequence, said control means including a magnetised element (21) mounted for movement corresponding to rotation of the shaft (13) carrying the second reel, first and second magnetically actuated proximity switches (26,27) mounted at respective spaced stations adjacent to the path of movement of said magnetised element, actuation of the first switch initiating operation of the pasting element (32) in relation to the angular position of a predetermined zone of said periphery of said second reel to urge said leading portion of said flight into contact with said zone for adhesion thereto, actuation of the second switch initiating operation of the severing element (34) after said contact of said leading portion with said zone, said proximity switches being adjustably mounted so that the spaced relationship of the stations at which the proximity switches (26,27) are located can be adjusted to vary the timing of operation of the severing element (34) relative to operation of the pasting element (32).
 2. A web joining device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetized element (21) is mounted for rotation with the shaft (13) operatively carrying the second reel and the proximity switches (26,27) are mounted at angularly spaced stations adjacent to the path of angular movement of said element, said proximity switches being carried on respective coaxially mounted and selectively relatively rotatable elements (24,25).
 3. A web joining device according to claim 1 characterised by reel mounting means including at least two reel mounting shafts (13,14) carried in a rotatable cradle (11) whereby the position of said shafts operatiVely mounting the first and second reels can be interchanged, each shaft having a magnetised element (21) mounted for angular movement corresponding to rotation thereof.
 4. A web joining device according to claim 3, characterized in that said proximity switches are carried on a swinging arm movable with the cradle over at least part of its arc of rotation to provide operative alignment of said switches with the magnetized element of whichever of said shafts is effectively in the second reel supporting position. 